CVE-2026-96951: Windows Shell Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

Overview

Severity
High (CVSS 8.8)
CVSS Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:C
Category
Security Feature Bypass
Exploit Status
Actively Exploited
Exploitation Likelihood
Detected
Patch Tuesday
2026-Oct
Released
2026-10-13
CISA KEV
Listed — due 2026-10-16

Description

Improper neutralization of special elements used in a command ('command injection') in Windows Shell allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature over a network.

FAQ

What kind of security feature could be bypassed by successfully exploiting this vulnerability? An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could evade Mark of the Web (MOTW) defenses. How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability? In an email or instant message attack scenario, the attacker could send the targeted user a specially crafted file that is designed to exploit the vulnerability. In any case an attacker would have no way to force a user to view attacker-controlled content. Instead, an attacker would have to convince a user to take action. For example, an attacker could entice a user to either click a link that directs the user to the attacker's site or send a malicious attachment.

Affected Products (31)

ESU

  • Windows Server 2012 R2
  • Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows 10 Version 22H2 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems

Windows

  • Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2016
  • Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2019
  • Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows 10 Version 21H2 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2022
  • Windows Server 2022 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows 11 Version 23H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 25H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 25H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 26H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 26H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2025
  • Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows 11 Version 26H1 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 version 26H1 for x64-based Systems

Microsoft Office

  • Outlook.com

Security Updates (9)

Acknowledgments

yhw, Benoit Sevens using Claude with Anthropic, <a href="https://x.com/kai6u">Riku Bamba</a> with <a href="https://global.fujitsu/en-us">Fujitsu Limited</a>, <a href="https://x.com/temp43487580">Yuya Chudo</a> with <a href="https://global.fujitsu/en-us">Fujitsu Limited</a>

Revision History

  • 2026-10-13: Information published.